There is absolutely no point in breeding a foal
which ends up at a meat auction and is sold for a
fiver. Or, to put it another way: would you want the
foal yourself or the grown up horse?

Here are some of the FAQ's you'll want to have
answered :

Well , should I breed from my horse
or not ?
To answer this question consider these
points:

1. Conformation - are there any
serious conformation faults?

2. Bloodline - a horse with good
breeding is easier to sell.

3. Performance - what do you want
the horse to do or become when adult? If
a show jumper or an eventer a proven
competition history is essential.

4. Temperament - Would you like
to see your foal have the same
temperament as his mother. Remember
characteristics are passed on by both
parents. If the answer to all these
questions is positive - you do feel
confident in breeding from your mare,
the next issue is whether you want the
mating to take place at a stud or at
home.

These are some of the issues:

1. What does a new foal cost?

First there is the stud fee of £500
plus; then there is stud livery and
routine vet's bills and
another £500 plus if you intend to send
your mare to foal at the stud. These
items do not allow for something going
wrong with the pregnancy, birth or the
foal's first few days.

2. Get the best stallion for the job

Do
not go to the cheapest one or the one nearest
to you. Make a short list of stallions
you wish to see - studs have photos and
details - then go and look them over.

3. Looking for a stallion.

www.stallionsdirect.com is an equine
breeding site. We suggest you start
there. You may want to consult the
British Horse Database which
publishes a list of registered
competition stallions (01933 274363) or
if you want a particular breed make a
point of contacting the appropriate
breed society listed in the British
Equestrian Directory.

4. In preparing your short list of
stallions bear in mind :

(a) Breeding
Record. Has the stallion sired a
suitable foal before?

(b) Performance
Record. Has the stallion been
successful in your chosen field?

(c)Conformation. Make sure you
don't select a stallion with the same
faults as your mare. (d) Size. A
larger sire should yield a taller foal.

5. Stallion shortlist. You can
probably make a short list from all the
photos and details provided by the studs
and your other research.

6. Checking out the stud. When
you visit each stud check out the venue,
staff, general ambience and the cost.
You then need to balance the looks and
character of the selected stallion with
the perceived quality of the stud. The
next question which needs to be resolved
is :

Do I take the mare to the stud or Do I breed at home?

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